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1. Yoga is a known stress reducer. Why is this important for diabetes? There is a direct relationship between stress and cortisol levels. As stress and cortisol levels increase, so do blood sugars. There is a simple equation at work here. Yoga and Diabetes = Improved Blood Sugars.
2. Attain a healthy body and mind. Physical activity promotes wellness, insulin sensitivity and the release of feel good hormones called endorphins.
3. Yoga is for everyBODY (as exhibited in this picture which made me laugh out loud). You can practice yoga at home or in a studio with an instructor. There are yoga classes for all abilities and levels. Check out “Not All Yoga is Created Equal” on the yogajournal.com website to learn about different styles of yoga.
4. Yoga encourages relaxation. There is a basic shift from the sympathetic nervous system and the fight or flight mechanisms this engages to utilizing the parasympathetic nervous system which helps us to relax. This shift is also correlated with improved blood sugars.
5. Yoga improves balance or proprioception decreasing falls and instability. This is important with diabetes when you may have problems with neuropathy or feeling your feet like you used to.
6. Yoga and meditation are effective at keeping us in the here and now. During yoga practice we can let go of grocery lists, tasks for tomorrow and anything else that has taken up square footage in our minds. Parenting to diabetes is a heavy load to carry day in and day out. This practice reminds us that worrying about the future detracts from our ability to enjoy today to the fullest.
7. Learn how to take a conscious breath. Yoga teaches us to take slower and deeper breaths which promotes relaxation and well being. Simple breathing exercises can have positive impacts on our heart rate and blood pressure.
8. Improved sleep equates to even lower cortisol levels and improved glucose control.
9. Inflammatory disease can be exacerbated by stress. We know when there is one autoimmune disease there can be others lurking beneath the surface. Yoga may be a tool to keep your autoimmune disease in check and aid in decreasing the cascading effects of inflammatory disease.
10. Yoga improves the mood. Just stand outside a yoga class that is finished and watch the blissful faces as they exit. If that isn’t enough of an invitation for you, I don’t know what would be.
There is an incredible list of conditions that yoga and meditation may help benefit. Dr. Timothy McCall is the author of “Yoga as Medicine- The Yogic Prescription for Health and Healing”. I attended a class at Kripalu Yoga Institute called “Yoga as Medicine” and was impressed by Dr. McCall’s teachings and connections with modern day disease and the ancient practice of yoga as “medicine”.
Yoga and diabetes are a wonderful pair, I hope you consider adding yoga into your healthy living toolbox.
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